Imagine living your entire life in captivity, unable to leave the confines of a small enclosure.
Well, that’s what her life at Atlas was like for more than a decade. This 16 year old dog has barely been able to step or walk freely his whole life and it’s all the fault of the irresponsible people who put him there in the first place.
Atlas knew nothing about being a dog. He had never felt love. He had no friends. And he never had a chance to share his wonderful personality with anyone.
All he knew was to wait for a little favor while he ate. This is how the story of Atlas unfolds…
From small boxes to large gardens
One of the neighbors noticed that this little dog was living a miserable life and decided something had to be done.
They reported the dog’s condition to Hitchcock Road Animal Services in Salinas, Calif., and an animal control team immediately responded and retrieved the dog from the owner. The dog was then transferred to Peace of Mind Dog Rescue in Pacific Grove, Calif., to ensure he received the makeover he so desperately needed.
It took the team around five hours to cut all the mats off of him. On top of all that, he couldn’t walk due to his nails, and his back was hunched due to the sitting position he was in for the last decade. Unfortunately, his tail had to be amputated.
“He was in horrific shape. It took 6 people a total of 5 1/2 hours to trim all the mats out of his fur. He was so badly matted that his tail became necrotic and had to be amputated,” the POMDR team wrote on their Facebook.
Eventually, the dog, at the time, named Dapper (later, Atlas) transformed into a brand-new boy.
Even though he was already deaf and partially blind, it was more than evident that he was so relieved to finally have all the mats trimmed, and now – he was ready for a new life!
Learning How To Be A Dog For The First Time Ever
Dage Baker’s friend told her Atlas’ story, and she immediately knew that she had to take him in, at least on a foster basis.
This giant-hearted woman who fostered many dogs over the years welcomed Atlas with arms wide open into her loving home. For the first couple of days, he was reserved and shy, which was completely normal, considering his traumatic experience.
But then, his true character started to show!
Despite the fact that he was already in the autumn of his life, Atlas slowly started to adapt into his new family. He trembled every time he went out in a spacious yard, and even though his senses were significantly low – he didn’t let that get in the way of having fun!
“It’s fun to watch his personality come out… I think that this is new lease on life, he’s a puppy again, or maybe he’s just realizing: -Oh, this is what life is!,” Dage told The Dodo.
He was absolutely in love with the ear scratches that his mom gave him, and he just adored taking naps in comfy places!
Dage and Atlas spent six wonderful months together, and they made sure they counted!
You Will Be Remembered, Sweet Atlas
Sadly, after only 180 days of love and freedom, sweet Atlas crossed the rainbow bridge.
His mom was devastated to part ways with her tiny lovebug, but she was glad that he had been given the chance to live his final months surrounded by the people who loved him.
“We are sad, and yet honored to have been given the chance to show him what true love feels like… I thank you all who followed his journey and rooted for him. I know he left us with his heart full of love,” his mom wrote.
After all the hardship he’d been through, Atlas was given the gift of love, and he embraced it with an open heart. And, if we can say one thing with certainty, it’s that he will always be remembered by his loving family!
